Search - Bill Haley & His Comets :: The Decca Years & More

The First King of Rock and Roll

The Dr. Edward | Mexico City | 12/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm sorry but I don't agree with the last two previous reviews. The talk about a very expensive box set, a tremendous amount of music that can cause an amateur fan to get dizzy and the suggestion that a smaller collection would be better.
Well, If someone falls in love with Haley's music is because he/she has heard one or more of his songs and they will start collecting all his discography because they want to know more about this man (in the same way I did it). Yes, is kind of expensive, but tracks are good, some of them are almost unknown for the normal human being and that's the key, you get deeper in Haley's life.
I particularly like "Lean Jean", "Summer Souveniers" and "A fool such as I" even though the were not hits.
I also have "From the original Master Tapes-Bill Haley and his Comets" but for unconditional fans this is not enough. We want more !! By the way, I have ordered the other box set "The Warner Brothers Years and More"
Finally I have Haley's songs for almost all the important periods of time: The Essex age, The Decca golden years, The mexican period (my mother, my aunt and even my grand father like him. The saw him and heard his songs when he arrived here, Mexico City, and I love hearing him singing in spanish), some of the Warner Brothers time and the Sonet period. Some are Long plays, some others Ep's and some Cd's.
This is just a little example of what a loyal fan can do, and no matter all the material I have, I haven't got tired or crazy.
Conclusion: those people who want to know more beyond the Haley's classics, buy this collection."

The Boss of Rock & Roll

John Carr | 06/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up listening to Bill Haley; he was the first real Rockabilly/Rock & Roll artist I ever heard. True, Elvis was earlier (and better), but you didn't hear Elvis's Sun Records in San Diego! Nor did you hear the R&B sounds of Big Joe Turner, Bull Moose Jackson and Wynone Harris...and so many others. (For those who love Bill Haley, I heartily recommend those artists; hell, check out all the '40s/'50s Jump Blues singers/bands.)



I remember watching Blackboard Jungle at the theater and jumping up and down to Rock Around the Clock! It was primal and started a passion for rock 'n' roll that's lasted over 50 years.



I was on a big Rock & Roll roots, Rockabilly and Jump Blues binge in the early 90s when the CD explosion really got the record companies to start mining the backroom vaults. I was buying almost all great Bear Family releases and this was my second or third box set, after Jerry Lee Lewis' Sun Sessions and the Carl Perkin's boxes. This set includes everything Bill did for Decca, including some real crap near the end when he lost his way. Most of the good stuff can be found on any of the 1 or 2 CD best-of releases; I recommend the Rock Around the Clock reissue for anyone who's not a Bill Haley/Rockabilly fanatic, like myself.



I like to have them all, and love the look and graphics of this great box set as well as the great book on Haley. It's pricey, but -- if you can afford it -- you can't go wrong with this set!



John"

The real Kings Of Rock and Rhythm

Vitaly Khachkinaev | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | 01/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The best box-set of the real Rock'n'Roll Kings. They was first and they are greatest of all of them! Their rhythm and drive is inimitable! Real KINGS!!"